Hearing Aid & Cochlear Implant Services

Hearing loss treatment does not always involve hearing aids. Some forms of hearing loss are treatable with medicine, surgery or in case of mild ear blockage due to colds, patient waiting. It is only when a person’s hearing loss is permanent and affects day to day functions, hearing aids and assistive listening devices are recommended by audiologists. We offer a variety of hearing aid, bone anchored hearing aid, body aid and cochlear implant services

Hearing Aid Trial

On average, successful hearing aid fittings patients take 1-4 weeks to try out hearing aids before selection as this minimises the risk

of rejection after the fitting.

As patients have different perceptions and experience with hearing aids, family support, vision and dexterity capabilities, we encourage each patient to spend at least 45 minutes during their trial session. We can better understand our patient’s needs and also address all questions and concerns.

Selection, Initial Fitting & Orientation

Once the patient has chosen his or her preferred hearing aid, it will take about 1-3 days for customisation and hearing aid fitting.

Hearing aid fitting means to program and fine tune both physical and acoustic attributes of the hearing aid to fit the patient.

Most patients are given an orientation on hearing aid use on the fitting day itself. If patients feel overwhelmed by the information during the initial fitting, they can choose to have the orientation on a sperate day.

What to expect for your first cochlear implant?

(1) Cochlear Implant Candidacy Assessment

whether a patient will benefit from a cochlear implant. The audiological and medical examination will include:

Full hearing assessment

Physican examination

Hearing aid trial

Imaging examinations:

Computerised Tomography scan

Magnetic Resonance Imagining

Psychological examination

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(2) Expectations Counselling & Device Selection

In this counselling session,

we ensure our patient and family understand the follow-up commitment required after the implant surgery, as well as what to expect regarding device performance and limitations.

Patients are also given the opportunity to meet representatives from the different cochlear implant manufacturers and to select the brand they are comfortable with.

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(3) Surgery Preparation

The patient will meet with the surgeon and will be briefed on:

What surgery is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.

All medicines and supplements that will increase risk of complications during and after surgery.

Child patients will be briefed on how surgery will improve his or her hearing and parents will be taught how to make things easier for their child

Planning for recovery, families or loved ones are briefed on how to care and comfort patient after surgery.

Recommended dose of pneumococcal vaccines at least two weeks before cochlear implant surgery.

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(4) Surgery Day

The average surgery takes between 1.5 to 5 hours. Patient will be kept safe and comfortable.

The surgery will be done while the patient is asleep under anaesthesia.

The doctor will make a small cut behind the patient’s ear and place the implant in the cochlea. The cut will leave a scar that will fade within a few months.

Most patients go home the day or surgery or the next day. Most can return to work in 1 week.

The patient’s hearing will remain the same after surgery. The patient will not start to hear until 2 to 4 weeks later when the implant is turned on. This allows the ear ample time to heal.

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(5) Activation of Cochlear Implant

About 2 to 4 weeks after the surgery, the patient will return to our centre to be fitted with his or her sound processor.

We will activate or “switch on” the cochlear implant and begin the fine-tuning the sound processor. The fine-tuning of the sound processor is also known as “MAPping”.

In this session, we encourage family members to come and share in the moment where patients experience hearing his or her first sound with the cochlear implant. It may be an emotional session for patients, and some choose to bring their own videorecorders to remember their first experience with sound.

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(6) Fine-tuning of Sound Processor

After the activation, patients are required to return to our centre for more fine-tuning and adjustments.

Most patients need time to adjust to hearing sounds on their sound processor, we make small increments in sound at every session.

Some patients chose to return for a total for 4 sessions within the first month. Followed by a session at the third, sixth and ninth month.

During this time, patients may want to schedule visits to our auditory verbal therapist for rehabilitation to improve their hearing outcomes.

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(7) Stabilised Hearing Level

Most patient’s hearing ability peaks during the 6th or 9th month

after activation of cochlear implant. After which, they might choose to return only for annual visits.

However, it is recommended that patients continue to work on their rehabilitation with our auditory verbal therapists to maximise their listening abilities.

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(8) Annual Check Up

Patients are recommended to return once a year for a physical and hearing check-up

with both the surgeon and audiologist. Also, patients can request for fine-tuning and servicing of the sound processor.